The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-10-15
"Poor Uncle is dead" said Mary,
bursting into tears.

RCte1 GAuduSteO tSeft. AHSh ASifS Se'". |
"Mary, you had better take possession
of Uncle's keys and deliver them to
his lawyer. Let US touch nothing till
his will is read"
"You had better take them, Belle
have no right to them.'
eBut, you were regarded as his house
keeper, and the lawyer will expect you
to take care Of everyshing.'
"l suppose it makes no difference
said Mary, as she arose, took the keys
from under her uncle's pillow and
dropped them into her pocket.
'sDo no; let any one have them cN-
cept Mr.. Merton," said Belle.
The day after the next there was
funeral, and the remains OF Maj. Brad-
leigh were deposited in the 'n'nb. amid
the tears of his three relatives. OF the
trio, the spectator would have supposed
Belle to be the most deeply affected.
Even her mother was astonished Mt
her.
81 don't know Belle, why you should
go on 80. 1 am sure your uncle hns
given you no great reason I" weep tor
him." said Mrs. Bradleigh.
"Ife has been very kind to US, mama,
even if he did disinherit me. l can't
help it.''
And Belle continued to weep, when
any one could see her, for two or three
days. At length Mr.. Merton, the law
| yer, called.
81 have come" he said, $50 fulfill
| my promise. and that is to read Major
Bradleigh's will. Who has the keys::''
| ssI have not" said Belle promptly.
81 have had nothing to do with Uncle's
affairs"
"Here are the keys" spoke up Mary.
| They all repaired to Maj. Bradleigh's
room and Mr.. Merton at once opened
the desk. He took out paper and,
turning, looked at the three ladies in
surprise. Belle appeared 10 take no
notice of the proceedings. Tho lawyer
then read the will aloud. All were as
tonished, and Belle appeared to be, too.
$50 it seems that am Uncle's heir,
after all thought ne was too good to
cut me Oft without any means of sup
port" che said.
| "lsut there was another will, little
different from this,n said Merton, again
turning to the desk, (which I cannot
find. 1 put both in this pigeon hole,
and Major Bradlaigh said they would
remain here till this day"
"Was it another will:" asked Belle.
eyes I wrote il MYSELF
"Well, if it was it is gone" said
Belle.
"Gone! What do you mean :' cried
Mr.. Merton.
ssThe night Uncle died." said Belle
4 little eXcitedly, s'he made me take
two papers out of that pigeon-hole and
read the dates. L did so, when hesaid
he did not know why he kept both
t and that he had changed his mind
Then he asked nae to burn it. refused
, to do so, but he kept insisting on it,
"Did you burn i,:' asked the law
yer, looking at her as though he sus
t pected fraud.
i. "Uncle said burn it, and even got
angry with me for refusing 10 comply,
). said Belle.
Q "Did you burn it?' stcrn!y 4ues
J. toned the lawyer.
"Didn't l tell you Uncle made m
doit t? How was l to know what lh
l. paper was:'
q "What mado you at first refuse t
o burn it:"
& "Because l thought Unc'e might nc
= be in his right mind. But in a fc,
self. How could 1 then rcfusc:'
10 "Ycu burnt the wrong papcr,' sal
II Mr., Merton.
y "Why did I? 1t was the one Unc'
- said burp.'
- "You have injured yourself" sud
V. denly said the lawyer, ''tor the oiht
n will gave you 0U the prcperty.'
III emo, it didn't" answered Belle,
N surprise.
IT, "How DO you know ii did not
ut asked Mr.. Merton, looking sirnight
III Belle, whose reddcning cheek betrayt
9, her. "You said you didn't know WIN
the paper was"
l 81 didn't know" said Belle in SON
confusion. 81 contradict2d what yt
ms said because ! could not belize
to that Uncle would leave all his prop"
l ty to me and ignore Cousin Mary al
mama.'
Vn 81 happen to know what your nHcl
he intentions were, and You have d
stroyed the last will he madc-l ca
'at not think with his COnspnt,n said y
'Se Merton.
I'll. "it is very g"nti"maniy in you
insult a de!enaeicss woman. As =
lilo not man l can only appeal to /
In law, which ! will do, said Belle =
oe- griIy.
m "I should like to see you try tha
he l will make you regret it, replied
IN Merton.
at HMr. Merton, said Mary gently,